HAL Delivers First Hawk Trainer To Indian Navy

Sep. 23, 2013 - 01:22PM
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India has ordered a total of 123 Hawk advanced jet trainers. (BAE Systems)

NEW DELHI — The first license-produced naval variant of the Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer was delivered to the Indian Navy on Sept. 23 in Bangalore.

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) produced the trainer under a license from BAE Systems. HAL plans to deliver a total of 17 of the naval variants over the next three years.

India has ordered a total of 123 Hawk advanced jet trainers, of which 70 have been delivered to the Indian Air Force.

The Hawk is a dual-seat multi-purpose aircraft powered by a single Rolls-Royce Adour Mk.871 engine. It is primarily used for basic, advanced and weapons training, but can also be adapted as a ground attack or air defense platform, according to BAE.

HAL, which was granted production rights under a 2004 contract, is building the jet at a lower cost than is done by BAE in the United Kingdom, a HAL executive said, but he gave no figures. Sources said the per unit cost of the Hawk is about $30 million.